PALOS VERDES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities are investigating a 25-foot boat after they forced it ashore at Malaga Park and apprehended three people on board.

A helicopter initially spotted the vessel traveling north near San Diego,  according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard was able to intercept the boat and make it run aground near Palos Verdes.

Police placed the three suspected smugglers in custody.

Customs officers and Homeland Security agents were also on scene, trying to figure out what was inside dozens of “suspicious packages” strewn across the boat.

Officials said they’ve recently been seeing a lot of small boats being used to carry narcotics. They often sail at a high rate of speed and further out from shore than they should.